122 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



feet, and are from 3 to 12 feet in circumference, when 

 standing apart, clothed with branches down to the ground." 

 Other authors state that on the western Cordilleras of New 

 Albion, at a great elevation, they grow from 100 to 150 

 feet in height, and from 2 to 5 feet in diameter. But all 

 unite in praising its exceeding beauty as a specimen tree. 

 The x wood is white, soft, even-grained, and, perhaps, not 

 very durable." This species yields a copious supply of 

 resin when punctured. 



29. P. Taeda, Linnceus. LOBLOLLY PINE. OLD-FIELD 

 PINE. FRANKINCENSE PINE. Leaves, 6 to 10 inches long, 

 from elongated sheaths, rigid, slender, rather obtuse, and 

 light-green color. Cones, 3 to 5 inches long, oblong, 

 solitary, or in pairs, somewhat truncate at the base ; the 

 scales terminated with short, sharp, incurved prickles. 

 Seeds small. 



This is another of our native pines that is confined to 

 the Atlantic States, and found frequently growing in com- 

 pany with the P. australis, although mostly in damp soils, 

 not too heavy. According to London, " it was introduced 

 into England before 1713, by Bishop Compton." 



It forms quite a large tree under favorable circumstances, 

 ranging- from 50 to 100 feet high, with very thick and 

 deeply furrowed bark. 



In the light barren soils of Virginia, it may be frequently 

 met with as a somewhat stunted large shrub. "All the 

 woods in the Southern States," says Pursh, " seem to be 

 seeded with it ; for, when any piece of clear land is neg- 

 lected for a length of time, it is speedily covered with 

 this species ; and hence its name among the inhabitants, 

 of Old-field Pine. It is difficult, and in some cases almost 

 impracticable, to recover the lands which have been over- 

 run with young pines of this species, as the ground appears 

 to have lost all fertile properties for any othef vegetable 

 than these trees." 



Michaux says, " In the same parts of Virginia, this species 



